Silencing of epithelial CXCL12 expression by DNA hypermethylation promotes colonic carcinoma metastasis.

ABSTRACT: Cellular metastasis is the most detrimental step in carcinoma disease progression, yet the mechanisms that regulate this process are poorly understood. CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 are co-expressed in several tissues and cell types throughout the body and play essential roles in development. Disruption of either gene causes embryonic lethality due to similar defects. Post-natally, CXCL12 signaling has a wide range of effects on CXCR4-expressing cells, including the directed migration of leukocytes, lymphocytes and hematopoietic stem cells. Recently, this signaling axis has also been described as an important regulator of directed carcinoma cell metastasis. We show herein that while CXCR4 expression remains consistent, constitutive colonic epithelial expression of CXCL12 is silenced by DNA

SUBMITTER: Wendt MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4610155 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature